Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Hotel-, Gaststättengewerbe/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft

This advanced training takes place at technical colleges (Fachschule) and other educational institutions. Learning locations include classrooms and computer rooms.

Occupation type: Advanced training profession, Bachelor Professional. Type of advanced training: Advanced training at technical colleges (Fachschule) (regulated by state law). Duration of advanced training: 2-4 years (full-time/part-time). Tasks and activities: Business economists (Betriebswirt) in the hotel and catering industry manage and coordinate operational processes. They develop business strategies, analyze the economic efficiency of a hospitality business, plan investments, and calculate costs. They also handle accounting and quality control. Furthermore, they negotiate with suppliers, compare purchase prices, conditions, and quality. They plan inventories and analyze the demand for goods and materials. Additionally, they perform public relations tasks, plan staffing needs, and guide employees. Work areas and locations: Business economists (Betriebswirt) in the hotel and catering industry are employed in hotels and gastronomy businesses, such as restaurants.

Full-time: 2-3 years. Part-time: 3-4 years.

Distribution of hours (example): Compulsory area. Cross-disciplinary learning area: Vocational and work pedagogy: 40 teaching hours. German/Communication: 120 teaching hours. Foreign language: 240 teaching hours. Social studies: 80 teaching hours. Business management: 120 teaching hours. Total for cross-disciplinary learning area: 600 teaching hours. Subject-specific learning area: Business organization in the hotel and catering industry: 120 teaching hours. Business administration: 280 teaching hours. Controlling: 40 teaching hours. Informatics: 160 teaching hours. Marketing: 80 teaching hours. Human resource management: 120 teaching hours. Accounting: 200 teaching hours. Law: 160 teaching hours. Tax law: 160 teaching hours. Technology: 120 teaching hours. Economics (Volkswirtschaft): 80 teaching hours. Business mathematics/Statistics: 200 teaching hours. Second foreign language: 200 teaching hours. Project work: 160 teaching hours. Total for subject-specific.

Advanced training at state technical colleges (Fachschule) is generally free for students. Private technical colleges (Fachschule), however, usually charge course fees, and sometimes also admission and examination fees. Additional costs may arise, for example, for work materials, travel to the training location, or external accommodation. Funding opportunities: Business administration advanced training can be financially supported according to the Advanced Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Advancement with funding. Support for particularly talented young professionals: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Weiterbildungsstipendium.

Learning areas: Subject-specific, e.g.: Business management, controlling, economy and society/national economy, business organization/IT, human resource management/labor law. Focus, e.g., Cruise Management, Tourist Marketing and E-Commerce. Cross-disciplinary, e.g.: Communication, English, other foreign languages. Additional knowledge: Schools may also provide additional knowledge that enables the acquisition of trainer suitability (Ausbildereignung) or university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife).

Vocational schools may offer additional qualifications. For example, preparation for the Master Craftsman's Examination (Hotelmeister/in, Restaurantmeister/in, or Küchenmeister/in), Catering Management, Tourism and Event Management, Certification as a Hygiene Specialist in the Food Industry, Certification as a Recognized Consultant for German Wine.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully completing this advanced training: Economics/Law (e.g., to determine costs for personnel and marketing strategies), Mathematics (e.g., to perform cost calculations and billing), Foreign Languages (e.g., to communicate with international guests).

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the educational provider, one should be prepared for the following conditions: For full-time instruction: full-day classes on at least four weekdays; for part-time instruction: typically, job-accompanying advanced training on weekends or in the evenings. The learning format is usually in-person events: classroom instruction at the educational institution (which may not be in the place of residence).

For advanced training abroad, the following options are available, for example: In Austria, WIFI Österreich offers advanced training (e.g., with the search term 'Hotelmanagement'). In Switzerland, wab - The Swiss Further Education Database offers advanced training (e.g., with the search term 'Hotellerie'). For documenting professional experience abroad, Europass offers the possibility to document learning periods completed abroad. Further information on Europass is available.

Participation in advanced training is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of business administrator (Betriebswirt/in) in the hotel and restaurant industry: In the field of Management and Corporate Leadership: State-Certified Operations Manager (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebsleiter/in) specializing in Hotel and Restaurant/Bachelor Professional in Home Economics, State-Certified Gastronomer (Staatlich geprüfter Gastronom/in)/Bachelor Professional in Economics, Business Administrator (Betriebswirt/in) (Fachschule) for Catering/Food Management/Bachelor Professional in Economics. Commonality: Taking on leadership roles in the hotel or restaurant industry. In the field of Hotel and Restaurant Industry: Certified Bar Master (Geprüfter Barmeister/in), Specialist in Hospitality (Fachwirt im Gastgewerbe/in), Certified Hotel Master (Geprüfter Hotelmeister/in), Certified Kitchen Master (Geprüfter Küchenmeister/in), Certified Restaurant Master (Geprüfter Restaurantmeister/in). Commonality: Managing businesses and employees in the hotel and restaurant industry.

In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were amended, introducing advanced training qualifications such as "Certified Professional Specialist," "Bachelor Professional," and "Master Professional" to emphasize the equivalence of vocational and academic education. The use of these professional titles depends on the enactment of corresponding new advanced training regulations.

The school and technical college regulations of the federal states (Bundesland) govern the duration, as well as possibilities for shortening and extending the training. Participants with a degree in another specialization within the field of economics or in a second focus of a specialization can shorten the advanced training. Participants can partially make up for missing professional experience during the advanced training. This may extend the duration of the advanced training.

This advanced training is legally regulated only in the mentioned federal states (Bundesland) and leads to the following qualification titles: Baden-Württemberg: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt) - Specialization in Hotel and Restaurant Management. The title 'Bachelor Professional in Business' can also be used. Bavaria: State-Certified Hotel Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Hotelbetriebswirt) (Bachelor Professional in Business). Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt) - Specialization in Hotel and Restaurant Management (Bachelor Professional in Business). Hamburg, Lower Saxony: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt) (Bachelor Professional in Business). Hesse: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt), Specialization in Hotel and Restaurant Management (Bachelor Professional in Business). Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt).

Becoming a state-certified business administrator in hotel and restaurant management is a vocational advanced training. It is regulated by state law and takes place at technical colleges (Fachschule). The full-time training lasts 2-3 years, while part-time training lasts 3-4 years. There are also educational offerings based on internal regulations.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: Future business administrators in hotel and restaurant management can gain a good starting position by acquiring additional qualifications during their advanced training, for example, with the certificate "Hygiene Specialist in the Food Industry." Find suitable employment: After their advanced training, business administrators in hotel and restaurant management work, for example, in hotels and gastronomic establishments. Secure employability: Through adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from management in the hotel and restaurant industry to accounting and controlling. Advance professionally: Building on existing qualifications, career advancement training (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) specifically designed for advanced training graduates can expand and complement the competence profile.

Depending on the federal state (Bundesland), the following specializations are available: Cruise Management, Event Management, International Hotel Management, Management in System Gastronomy, Tourist Marketing and E-Commerce.

Legal regulations for this advanced training (Weiterbildung) are determined by school and vocational school (Fachschule) regulations at the state (Bundesland) level. For example, there are regulations such as the Business Administrator Ordinance (Betriebswirtverordnung) from 1998 in Baden-Württemberg and the Vocational School Ordinance (Fachschulordnung) from 2017 in Bavaria. In Berlin, the Vocational School Ordinance for Technology, Agricultural Economics, and Economics (Fachschulverordnung Technik, Agrarwirtschaft und Wirtschaft) from 2014 applies. Additionally, the training and examination regulations for vocational schools in the fields of technology, economics, and design with a two-year vocational training (Ausbildung) duration are also included.

Vocational schools (Fachschule) typically require a degree in a relevant, recognized vocational training (Ausbildung) occupation and professional experience. The minimum educational requirement is a secondary school diploma, which varies depending on the respective state (Bundesland). Handling food requires instruction and a certificate from the health department (Gesundheitsamt).